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What's in a name? The terrorists of ISIL are not the first to pervert names

in their own interests. Columnist José Vítor Malheiroswrites that they got

the idea from firms, government agencies and politicians everywhere.

 

 

Misnomer 'Islamic State' Highlights Dangerous Society-Wide Deception (Publico, Portugal)

 

"I don't know if the self-proclaimed 'Islamic State' has contracted a branding specialist to choose its name, but the know-how is there. On a more dramatic note, this manipulation of names and concepts is everywhere to be seen and poisons the media discourse, discredits political discourse and creates a profound sense of powerlessness among citizens. ... The question is: if the Mafia adopts the name 'Sicilian Cultural Association' and Goldman Sachs re-baptizes itself as 'The Congregation of Barefoot Carmelites of Wall Street,' should the media use such designations? Or should it consider that the message conveyed by the designation is at odds with the truth of the matter? ... Media, which have the vital role of monitoring those in power, should monitor not only their actions but their language, and denounce its perversion."

 

By José Vítor Malheiros

                                          http://worldmeets.us/images/Jose-Vitor-Malheiros_mug.jpg

 

Translated By Ricardo Cidra

 

October 14, 2014

 

Publico – Portugal – Original Article (Portuguese)

Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble, an American, suggested a few days ago that "the international community and law enforcement" stop using the term "Islamic State" to refer to the Islamist terrorist organization that controls much of Iraq and Syria - which the groups chose for itself. Instead, he proposed using the acronym CM for "Cowardly Murderers," a name that, according to Noble, should henceforth be used to refer to a group that has come to epitomize murderous cruelty by filming the beheadings of  hostages (not only Western) and disseminating them over the Internet.

 

Noble's proposal is not a mere gesture, but is intended to combat one of the most effective propaganda weapons these terrorists have: their name.

 

In fact, by using the term "Islamic State" and previously, "the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" - which media adopted quickly, the organization gains relevance and dignity in the public eye that no one recognizes (that of a state). Moreover, it acquires immediate identification with a religion (Islam) which is intended to reinforce its legitimacy before Muslims. On the other hand, it spreads among non-Muslims the idea of an identifying link between terrorism and Islam, thereby generating reactions of religious hatred which is the fuel on which these terrorists feed.

 

Noble's name change may not be well-received, but it is clear that media use of the name chosen by the group itself represents a justification and amounts to objective collaboration in an act of propaganda every time the term is repeated on television. "I ask the global community," said Noble, "why should we allow a bloodthirsty group of terrorists to name themselves after a religion as a pretext to justify their heinous crime that no religion would justify?"

 

 

The question is: if the Mafia adopts the name "Sicilian Cultural Association" and Goldman Sachs re-baptizes itself as "The Congregation of Barefoot Carmelites of Wall Street," should the media begin to use such designations? Or should it consider that the message conveyed by the designation is at odds with (how should we say it? ...) the truth of the matter? Or should these updated designations represent de-facto new identities and new objectives for these organizations?

 

I don't know if the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" has contracted a branding specialist to choose its name, but the know-how is there. On a more dramatic note, this manipulation of names and concepts is everywhere to be seen and poisons media discourse, discredits political discourse and creates a profound sense of powerlessness among citizens. Things no longer have the names they should have - names that we learned were given in dictionaries. They have acquired new meanings conferred by those in power. Definitions have been altered that make it difficult to tell where the truth lies, having been redefined according to the interests of those who control public discourse.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

Was Prime Minister Passos Coelho paid by vocational training company Tecnoforma? No, he had his expenses "reimbursed" while presiding over the Portuguese Council for Cooperation. The council was aimed at enhancing cooperation with PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African countries) - a non-profit/non-governmental organization. The intervention of the Troika of lenders [the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund] aimed at an "adjustment." The government doesn't want to cut wages, but only wants to reduce "unit labor costs." Evaluation, flexibility, productivity, "compensatory" time off, guarantee funds, excellence, weighted average, "disorders" in court, "sustainability" of public accounts, "structural" reform, etc.

 

 

The manipulation of designations - the new lexicon of power - is everywhere, and there is such an army of megaphones at its beck and call that it pervades the discourse of even the most critical and attentive observers. Yet names are important. They identify things, people, organizations, politics, our actions, our choices, our ideas. Without calling a spade a spade we cannot talk, the discourse becomes a foler of euphemistics, no longer with any common ground - no lexical public space that allows communication or a common language.

 

There is the notion - the "cousin" of free expression and the "sister" of copyright - that people have the right to use for themselves whatever designation they wish. I defend that right. However, there is no right to impose such designations on public discourse - and the media in particular has a duty to resist. That's hard because these corruptions are also simplifications, and many times economic. But media, which have the vital role of monitoring those in power, should monitor not only their actions but their language, and denounce its perversion, whether in dealing with the "Islamic State" or with the "Arc of Governance" (a designation given to the three parties that dominate Portugal). Calling a spade a spade is a fundamental obligation of journalists, and without it, information becomes fiction or becomes an element of propaganda.

 

 

SEE EVEN MORE ON THIS:
Hurriyet, Turkey: ISIL: Turkey Must Correct the 'Misperceptions' of its Allies
Hurriyet, Turkey: Turkey Must Set Aside Obsession with Assad to Deal with ISIL
de Volkskrant, The Netherlands: Let's Not 'Lose Our Heads' Over IS Barbarism
Die Presse, Austria: Use of Terrorists as Foreign Policy Tool Ensnares Turkey
Die Welt, Germany: War on IS: America Finds Itself in Israeli Shoes
Le Figaro, France: Stopping Putin and IS: Neither a Cold War, Nor a War on Terror
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: Obama's Loose Lips May Sink Anti-ISIL Ship
Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany: Obama's Experiment' Proves Only U.S. Can Maintain Order
Le Figaro, France: Success of Anti-ISIL War Depends on New Shiite-Sunni Dynamic
Le Figaro, France: Laying Bare the Workings of the Islamic State
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: Anti-ISIL Arabs Have Much to Answer for
Azzaman, Iraq: Nephew of Saddam Called 'Chief Culprit' in Camp Speicher Massacre
News, Switzerland: Islamic State: Preventing the 'Conquest of Rome'
Middle East Monitor, Gateway Pundit: IS Calls Kerry 'Old Geezer'; Obama 'Mule of the Jews
Le Soir, Belgium: Beheadings: The Devious Jihadist Trap
leJDD, France: Islamic State: What the Paris Summit Failed to Settle
Publico, Portugal: Caution: Captain America's Arms-Based 'Recovery' May Be Hazardous
Het Parool, The Netherlands: 'Zionists Planned ISIS': Official's Tweet Reflects Wider Problem
Tehran Times, Iran: 'Caliph' al-Baghdadi is Jewish Mossad Agent 'Simon Elliot
O Globo, Brazil: Battle of Granada Redux: Islam's Revenge on the West
L'Expressions, Algeria: 'Truth Will Come Out' of Western Hand Behind Terrorism
Le Figaro, France: As Shown Again in Iraq, France Must Reject 'Subjection' to United States
Le Figaro, France: Gaza and MH17: France Pays the Price for its Moribund Diplomacy
O Globo, Brazil: 'Ostentatious Terrorism' from 9-11 to the Islamic State
Le Figaro, France: Beware Perpetuating NATO by Fanning the Flames with Russia
Die Zeit, Germany: Islamic State Barbarism has Ignites Long-Absent Muslim Soul-Searching
Le Figaro, France: The 'Caliphate Effect': New Horizons for Global Jihad
de Volkskrant, Netherlands: Despite Beheading, 'Glorifying Terror' Should Not Be a Crime
La Stampa, Italy: The Caliphate and Kobe Bryant: Between Mafia and Sharia
La Stampa, Italy: Reagan Sets 'Acid Test' for Crisis-Beset Obama
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: 'Short-Lived' Islamic State Serves America's Purpose
Le Nouvel Observateur, France: Beheading Shows 'Weakness'; Video Shouldn't Be Viewed
The Independent, U.K.: Fisk on ISIL: Talk of Apocalyptic' Threat is Simply Childish
The Independent, U.K.: West Poised to Join Forces with President Assad
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: The Kurds, ISIL, and Iraq's Icosahedron Triangle
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: Obama Coddles Assad to Please Iran, Endangering Millions
Carta Maior, Brazil: ISIL: The Latest Disastrous Tool of Western Statecraft
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria: ISIL Hoists Saudi Royals By Their Own Petards
Le Figaro, France: ISIL Fighters as 'Mad as the Nazis or the Reds'
Amal al-Oumma, Egypt: The U.S.-Zionist 'Hoax' Over East Jerusalem
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria: AIPAC: The Lobby One Dare Not Name
Alhayat Aljadeeda, Palestinian Territories: America is Now 'Israel's Hostage'
Alhayat Aljadeeda: Israel Uses 'Diplomatic Terror' Against the U.S.
Dar al-Hayat, Saudi Arabia: Israel 'Drains the Viagra' from America's Credibility
De Morgen, Belgium: Aided by America and Europe, ISIS Poses Mortal Threat to Iran
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: Mysteries of ISIL and the 'American Hand'
Izvestia, Russia: For Russia, Iraq Crisis is a 'Lucky Break'
L'Expressions, Algeria: Modern Terrorism: An American 'Success' Story
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon: An Existential Threat to Iraq - but not Only to Iraq
Sotal Iraq: ISIS: 'American-Zionist Tool' for Dismembering Iraq
News, Switzerland: As Iraq Reerupts, 'Media Mad Cow Disease' Takes Hold in U.S.
Thawra Al-Wada, Syria: 'New Middle East' Borders to Be Drawn in Arab Blood
The Frontier Post, Pakistan: America's Secret War Against Iran in Balochistan
Al Ayyam, Palestinian Territories: Feuding Arabs Help America 'Remap' the Middle East
Al Ghad, Jordan: U.S.-Zionist Plan for 'Blood Borders' Proceeds Apace
Sotal Iraq, Iraq: REPORT: ISIS Revives Saddam's Baath Party to Win Sunni Support
Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia: Jihadi MANPADS: History Teaches 'Precisely Nothing'
Azzaman, Iraq: Barack Obama: 'Milking' the Iraq War for All it's Worth
Kitabat, Iraq: For Iraqi People, U.S. Withdrawal is 'Two Victories in One'
Sotal Iraq, Iraq: 'Stubborn' Iraqis Mistaken to Demand American Withdrawal
Al Watan, Oman: How Iraq's Resistance Saved Women from Americans
Al-Arab Al-Yawm, Jordan: Senior Shiite Leaders Warn of Iraq-Syria War
Al-Arab Al-Yawm, Jordan: 'Smell of Gunpowder' Has Arabs on Edge
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraq Caught in Middle as U.S. Asserts Iranian Murder Plot
Debka File, Israel: Loss of U.S. Drone Strengthens Case for Israeli Attack
Iraq News Agency, Iraq: Al-Sadr and Al-Maliki: More Shiite or Iraqi?
Kayhan, Iran: Sadrists to Take Up Arms If U.S. Remains in Iraq
Financial Times, U.K.: Maliki Gives Iran and U.S Joint Cause
Kitabat, Iraq: Letting Iraq Collapse Will Spell Disaster for U.S.
Kitabat, Iraq: 'Render Unto Caesar What is Caesar's'
Azzaman, Iraq: Iraqi Democracy Has Been 'Assassinated'
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Need Patriotism, Not Americans Troops!
La Stampa, Italy: The War in Iraq: America's 'Seven Inglorious Years'
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Must 'Take to Streets' to Demand a Presidential System
El Pais, Spain: U.S. Ends War it Couldn't Win; Leaves Behind Ruined Nation
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraq is Our Country!!!
The Telegraph, U.K.: Top Army Officer Warns Iraq Not Ready Until 2020
The Independent, U.K.: U.S. Troops Say Goodbye to Iraq
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Iraq is 'Half Built with the Roof Off'
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Fears Rise as U.S.-Backed Fighters Defect to al-Qaeda
Debka File, Iraq: U.S. Ends Iraq War, Leaves Two Civil Wars 'On the Boil'
Debka File, Israel: Combat Between U.S. and Iran Looms in Iraq
Kitabat, Iraq: America's 'Promise': To Leave Iraq in a State of Civil War
Kitabat, Iraq: Wake Up Iraqis!: The Americans Never Intend to Withdraw!
Kitabat, Iraq: America's War: From One Dictatorship to Another
Iraq News Agency, Iraq: Details on Scientist's Death Expose 'Zionist Jail' in Iraq
Iraq News Agency: Chalabi Tells General Odierno: 'Mind Your Business'
Iraq News Agency: U.S. 'Pullout' Resembles Israeli Retreats from Gaza
Al Iraq News, Iraq: Iraq's American Embassy is 'Suspicious' and 'Dangerous'!
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria: Blackwater 'No Better Than al-Qaeda'  
La Stampa, Italy: War in Iraq: America's 'Seven Inglorious Years'
Al-Madina, Saudi Arabis: Mercenaries Part of U.S. 'Plot' to Destroy Iraqis
Kayhan, Iran: A 'Small Number' of Iranian Flock 'Led Astray'
Kayhan, Iran: America and Britain are Behind Iran's So-Called Unrest
Kayhan, Iran: Obama is a 'Global Menace;' and 'Threat to Islam'
Kayhan, Iran: Nuclear Power and Israel's Inexplicable Abuse of Iran
Kayhan, Iran:
Brazil Welcomes Ahmadinejad; Keeps Distance from 'English World'
Estadao, Brazil: Brazil's Foolhardy Treatment of America and Embrace of Iran
Kayhan, Iran: America and Britain are Behind Iran's So-Called Unrest
Die Welt, Germany: Ahmadinejad Announces Iranian Plans to 'Administer the World'
Estadao, Brazil:
Brazil's Foolhardy Treatment of America and Embrace of Iran
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria: Arab World 'Impotent' but to Witness Iran's Ascent
Dar Al-Hayat, Egypt: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - and its Evil Sisters
Al-Iraq News, Iraq: America's Disgraced Hawks Turn to Middle East Plan B
Kitabat, Iraq: The ISIS - An 'American-Zionist-Iranian Device'
Al-Iraq News, Iraq: Great Satan and the Zionist Entity: 'Arabs Swallow the Iranian Bait'
Thawra Al-Wada, Syria: America's 'Arab-Zionist' Pawns
Debka File, Israel: Assad Pulls Ahead in Syria; Putin, Khamenei are 'Joint-Victors'
Debka File, Israel: Obama, Netanyahu Help Khamenei Pick Iran's Next President
Sotal Iraq, Iraq: Iran, Iraq and Our ‘Common Enemy’
Iraqi News Agency, Iraq: Is U.S. Conspiring with Iran, or are they Simply Fools?
Iraqi News Agency, Iraq: Al-Sadr and al-Maliki: More Shiite or Iraqi?
Financial Times, U.K.: Maliki Gives Iran and U.S Joint Cause
Kitabat, Iraq: Letting Iraq Collapse Will Spell Disaster for U.S.
Kitabat, Iraq: 'Render Unto Caesar What is Caesar's'
Azzaman, Iraq: Iraqi Democracy Has Been 'Assassinated'
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Need Patriotism, Not Americans Troops!
La Stampa, Italy: The War in Iraq: America's 'Seven Inglorious Years'
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Must 'Take to Streets' to Demand a Presidential System
El Pais, Spain: U.S. Ends War it Couldn't Win; Leaves Behind Ruined Nation
Kitabat, Iraq: Iraq is Our Country!!!
The Telegraph, U.K.: Top Army Officer Warns Iraq Not Ready Until 2020
The Independent, U.K.: U.S. Troops Say Goodbye to Iraq
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Iraq is 'Half Built with the Roof Off'
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Fears Rise as U.S.-Backed Fighters Defect to al-Qaeda
Debka File, Iraq: U.S. Ends Iraq War, Leaves Two Civil Wars 'On the Boil'
Debka File, Israel: Combat Between U.S. and Iran Looms in Iraq
Kitabat, Iraq: America's 'Promise': To Leave Iraq in a State of Civil War
Kitabat, Iraq: Wake Up Iraqis!: The Americans Never Intend to Withdraw!
Kitabat, Iraq: America's War: From One Dictatorship to Another  

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Posted By Worldmeets.US October 14, 2014, 2:49pm

 

 

 

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